Perpendicular Inelastic Collision

In summary, two clay balls with equal mass and perpendicular paths collide in a completely inelastic collision. The resultant momentum of the combined balls after the collision can be found using the equation P = (P1^2 + P2^2)^1/2, where P1 and P2 are the momenta of the individual balls and P is the total momentum after the collision. Plugging in the given values, the magnitude of the momentum after the collision should be 6.7, however, the calculated value was incorrect. Further examination of the solution is needed to determine where the mistake was made.
  • #1
sheepcountme
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Homework Statement



Two clay balls of the same mass stick together in an completely inelastic collision. Before the collision, one travels at 5.6 m/s and the other at 7.8 m/s, and their paths of motion are perpendicular. If the mass of each ball is 0.24 kg, what is the magnitude of the momentum of the combined balls after the collision?

Homework Equations



Vf=(m1v1+m2v2)/(m1+m2)

The Attempt at a Solution



I plugged everything in and for Vf I got 6.7, which was incorrect. Could someone tell me where I went wrong...
 
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  • #2
Before collision two clay balls are moving in the perpendicular direction. So the resultant of two momenta is P = (P1^2 + P2^2)^1/2.
Therefore the momentum after collision is P. Total mass M is (m1 + m2). Now find Vf.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
Thank you!
 

Related to Perpendicular Inelastic Collision

What is a perpendicular inelastic collision?

A perpendicular inelastic collision is a type of collision between two objects where they collide at a 90 degree angle and stick together after the collision. This means that the objects become one object after the collision, with a combined mass and velocity.

What is the conservation of momentum in a perpendicular inelastic collision?

The conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant. In a perpendicular inelastic collision, the initial momentum of the two objects before the collision is equal to the final momentum of the combined object after the collision.

What is the equation for calculating the final velocity in a perpendicular inelastic collision?

The equation for calculating the final velocity in a perpendicular inelastic collision is v = (m1v1 + m2v2) / (m1 + m2), where v is the final velocity, m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects, and v1 and v2 are the initial velocities of the two objects respectively.

What is the difference between a perpendicular inelastic collision and a perpendicular elastic collision?

In a perpendicular elastic collision, the objects bounce off each other after the collision and conserve both momentum and kinetic energy. In a perpendicular inelastic collision, the objects stick together after the collision and only conserve momentum, with some kinetic energy being lost to deformation or heat.

What are some real-world examples of perpendicular inelastic collisions?

A car crashing into a wall, a bullet hitting a target and staying embedded, or two objects colliding on an air hockey table are all examples of perpendicular inelastic collisions. These collisions are common in everyday life and can also be observed in physics experiments.

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